Ground Subsidence in Dhanbad’s Sijua Swallows Houses, Kills Child; Several Injured

Panic gripped Sijua in Dhanbad’s Jogta police station area early Tuesday morning after a sudden ground subsidence caused several houses to collapse, trapping residents beneath the debris and killing a child.

The incident occurred around 4.30 a.m. near Sijua 10 Number Mor in Baghmara. According to local residents, a loud sound was followed by the ground giving way, causing around half a dozen houses to suffer damage. Several people were trapped as parts of the structures collapsed into the subsided area.

Two children and six women were reportedly injured in the incident. Local residents immediately launched rescue efforts and took the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment. A child, aged around six, later died during treatment. The condition of some of the other injured people was reported to be serious.

According to local accounts, Guddu Bahadur and his wife Chand Devi were asleep at their home along with their three children when the incident occurred. The sudden collapse reportedly caused the entire house and the people inside to sink into the ground.

The impact was so severe that the sound woke people in neighbouring houses. Residents rushed out of their homes amid panic, fearing that further subsidence could occur.

Police and administrative officials reached the site soon after receiving information about the incident and began assessing the situation. Rescue and relief efforts were also initiated with the help of local residents.

The incident has raised serious concerns because the area had reportedly already been identified as a danger zone by Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL). The Sijua 10 Number Mor, Jogta Mor and surrounding areas had been identified as vulnerable, and residents had previously been advised to vacate the zone.

The latest incident has once again highlighted the risks faced by families living in areas affected by underground mining and ground instability in the coal belt. Such subsidence can occur when underground mine workings or abandoned mining areas lose stability, potentially causing the ground above to sink suddenly.

Following the incident, angry residents blocked the Katras-Dhanbad main road in protest. The road blockade led to long queues of vehicles on both sides, disrupting traffic in the area.

The incident has also intensified demands for immediate action to relocate families living in vulnerable zones and ensure that adequate rehabilitation and safety measures are implemented.

Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage and the safety of surrounding areas, while the condition of those injured remains a matter of concern.